Stronger Denmark

There were alot of fighting between Sweden and Denmark around the 12th century, but there seems there were two major wars in which Denmark invaded Sweden, but were defeated. Could this (crappy) map come into effect? Could Denmark ever get Western Götaland? Or maybe even both of the Götalands?

I've thought about this for some time, but I know way too little about the period. I know that the Götar (geats?) usually are considered to have become christian earlier than the Svear and the peoples of Småland. If the Götar came to be under the danish king, or their king is not recognized by the things of Svealand (and maybe Småland) so we get an "independent" Götaland, the balance in the remaining Sweden might shift more in favour of the old religion - for a little while at least.

What might be the long term effects of this? Is the Kalmar union more likely to succeed or less? Or butterflied away all together? Will Denmark try to take all of Sweden? Will they succeed?

Alt_Scandinavia_in_1200s.GIF
 
It did actually become the map for a time. At least Magnus son of King Niels of Denmark was made King of the West Götar 1129-1134.

AFAIK there was other Danish princes termed King of West Göter, but I'll have to look that up.

If the Svear stays heathen longer it would make for Danish/Göta crusades to plaese the church and get riches and convert the Svear. Could make for some interesting TL with a Göta buffer state between Danes and Svear.

Could make for Denmark to take all of Sweden, but they'll probably have a hard time just like OTL and as soon as the Svear are christened they'd probably want to unite Sweden themselves.

This would probably not butterfly the Union of whatever name away. It would be attempted at some point I reckon. But it would still be an unstable conglomerate.
 
If Göter remained/really became Orthodox it would be a challenge to be either them or Catholic Danes to convert the Svear and Smaalaendinger.

If West Göteland could keep its ties to Novgorod and Denmark to Kiev we could have a truly Great Northern War 1000 AD.
 
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